After Darkness Falls
"Memories"
Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers, that is owned by Saban/Disney. Carri and all things related to Carri (including Jason's cougar ninjetti power) belong to KJ with many thanks. Everyone else belongs to me.
The next day Jason found himself sitting in one of the boothes within Bulkmeier's, waiting on Kim, Carri, and Rocky. It had taken him the better part of the morning to convince Carri to leave her work to have lunch with him. He had neglected to tell her that Rocky would be there, as far as she knew it was her, Kim, and him. She was supposed to have everything finished by the end of the week, and she wanted to hurry with it, but eventually she had caved and agreed to come. Jason had called Rocky on his cell and told the time and place. Kim was going to come with Carri, so that when Carri did spot Rocky she wouldn't be able to leave. He had come in thirty minutes early to go ahead and get a table for them, now it was all just a matter of waiting.
Jason sighed, if they were able to smoothe things over that'd be great. As he sat there he found himself wishing that things hadn't ended so badly for him and Emily, that they had talked about what had happened, instead of him just taking off for the better part of ten years. After all, she had been the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on, sweet, funny, everything he'd ever wanted. But, he thought, that's in the past. Time for me to move on.
Rocky pulled his car ove ron the side of the road, switched it off and got out. "Here I am..." he muttered as he stared at the building in front of him. He knew that Bulk and Skull had started a very successful business, but he had never been to it. But that wasn't why he was there. He was there to try and get back with the woman he had loved since high school, hopefully she felt the same about him now as she had back then. Only time would tell.
When he walked into the building he was immediately greeted by someone he hadn't seen in years, Skull. He was directed towards his table back in the corner of the restaurant where Jason sat waiting. He could feel his heart pumping as he took his seat. Carri wasn't even here yet and he was already nervous. Why, he didn't know. It was Carri, the person he was once the most comfortable with. But what if that really had changed? What if he had left Dana, only to find out that Carri didn't want him anymore?
Dana, he thought, this mornings events could have gone better. He was sure he'd be hearing from either his mother, her, or her mother. She had come over early that morning, like she usually did, but this morning had been different. He had sat her down and had a talk, which ended with them breaking up. She hadn't taken to that too kindly, he had to replace a few things. Small things, like a lamp, a few glasses, and a remote. During that rampage he was grateful for his knowledge of martial arts, it allowed him to avoid the various objects that were thrown at him. Eventually, after she had somewhat calmed down, she handed him her key back and left in a huff. He had never seen her so angry before.
Flashing back to where he was, he found Jason waving his hand in front of his face and saying "Hello? Rocky, you awake?"
Rubbing his eyes he said "What? Oh yeah, just thinking. Thanks again for setting this up." He wasn't sure why Jason was doing it, but he was sure grateful.
Jason chuckled and said "No problem. But when Carri and Kim get here, me and Kim are leaving so the two of you can talk in private." Getting them together in the same room was as far as his help went, everything else was up to them. Plus he told Tommy that he'd meet him at the gym later. It was strange, they hadn't seen each other since the Serpentera mission, and yet it was almost as though no time had passed. Or so it seemed, he had a feeling that the real reason Tommy wanted to meet with him was to discuss what all ahd gone on in space.
Rocky figured that was what they'd do, but part of him wished that they would stay, just in case. But he understood that Kim had to get back to work, and that Jason probably had other plans. "Yeah, that's fine." Rocky said, stiffening when he saw the two girls enter the restaurant. Jason saw him stiffen, and turned to see what he was looking at. Good, he thought, they're here.
Carri looked down the restaurant and saw Rocky's face, and the back of Jason's head. She quickly made a mental note to get those two back for this. "You set me up." She growled at Kim, who turned and smiled in response. "How could you? I mean, it's Rocky! Kim.."
Kim raised her hand, cutting her off and said "Carri, he wanted to talk to you, and we agreed to help him. Now you're going to sit there, and you are going to talk to him. Even if it kills you."
Carri glared at her friend, she would get her back, somehow. As they approached the table she felt her heartbeat faster, what was she supposed say? That she still loved him and wanted him to take her back? What if he just wanted to be friends though? She suddenly realized that she was sort of terrified, not even Sarahna could put this kind of fear into her.
"Hey!" Kim said as she took a seat next to Rocky, and Jason stood so Carri could slide in.
"Hey, Kim." Both Rocky and Jason said. Jason caught the accusing glare that Carri sent his way, and he just smiled and shrugged his shoulders. He knew she'd be mad, but he also knew that if everything worked out that she'd get over it, and if it didn't work out, he knew plenty of places in the galaxy to hide. "Well," he said as he stood back up, "I've got to be going. I'm supposed to meet someone in about thirty minutes, so I'll see you guys later." He gave Carri another smile as she continued to glare at him, and with that he was gone.
"Are you going to leave too?" Carri asked, looking over at Kim. She hoped not, she wanted her best friend, her sister, to be there for her in case everything cam crashing down.
"Yes, I have to be getting back to the shop." Kim lied, she didn't have to get back right away, she just wanted them to be alone to talk. Well, as alone as you could get in a public place. Kim stood, said her goodbyes, and left.
Rocky looked over at Carri, and he found himself at a loss for words. He was awe struck by her beauty, her dark hair was hanging loosey over her shoulders, even her lingering glare at Kim, who now gone, was beautiful. He didn't realize how much he missed her until now. Finally finding his voice he said "Hey, how've you been?" He could have kicked himself, this was the woman he loved, that he wanted to get back with, and instead of telling her that, he just asked how she was.
Carri could tell how nervous he was by how he spoke, she found kind of cute actually. He was the same old Rocky alright. Maybe things could work out, if he was nervous about talking to her. The last time he had been that nervous had been when he asked her out back in high school. "I''ve been alright, not the best, but alright. You?" She could the nervousness in her own voice as well, and she couldn't help but chuckle at it.
Her chuckle didn't go unnoticed by Rocky, he was curious now. Was she laughing at him, or something else? "What's so funny?" He asked, afraid the answer would be him.
Carri looked at him and said "Us. How nervous we are. It's kind of funny if you think about it."
Rocky wasn't ecpecting to hear that, but he found himself kind of glad at the fact that she was nervous as well. Maybe it meant there was hope. "We both know why they brought us, and that was to talk and hopefully get back together, right?" Carri nodded and he continued "Well, how about we go out tonight? To a movie, and dinner?"
Carri smiled, she was hoping he'd ask her out again. That would confirm that he still wanted to be with her. "Pick me up at six." She said, giving him her address as she stood. "Sorry, but I've got to get back to work, especially if I intend to make that date tonight." She flashed him a smile, and turned to leave.
Rocky sat there, he realized he probably had the goofiest grin on his face, but he didn't care. The woman he loved had agreed to go out with him tonight. Maybe from there they could rebuild their relationship. It's a start, he thought as he slid out of the booth and headed ouside towards his car.
Tommy sat in the gym waiting for Jason. He wanted to talk to him, to find out everything he could about what happened. He knew that stuff had been left out during their explanantion at the meeting, and he was determined to find out what it was. He wiped the sweat from his work out off his forehead as he saw the green ranger walk towards him. "Took you long enough." Tommy joked as he stood up.
Jason looked around, it certainly wasn't Ernie's old Juice Bar, but it was nice. "I had some things to take care of." He knew what Tommy wanted, and he would tell him about himself, but not about Kim or Carri. Partly because even he was mostly in the dark about what Kim had been up to, and it was her and Carri's job to tell what they had been up to, not his. If they even wanted the others to know.
"That's fine. Hey-"
Tommy was cut off by Jason who said "Look bro, I know you want to ask about what all went on over the past few years, and I'm willing to explain about what happened to me, but not about Kim and Carri. That's their choice on whether or not they tell you and the others." He didn't like keeping things from his friends, but he also didn't like telling others something he wasn't sure they wanted them to know.
Tommy figured that'd be his answer, but even a little bit of knowledge was more than none at all, besides, he would get the rest from Kim and Carri somehow. "Fair enough. Tell me, what happened to you out there?"
Sarahna sat up in her palace, looking out over the Earth. Cairus had returned with someone who would be able to make monsters for her, his name was Xanar. When they returned at the beginning of the day he began repairing Rita's old monster machine. As of now he was still working on it. Sarahna was growing impatient though, she wanted to attack the Earth now, not later. "Cairus!" She bellowed, and the scaley fox cam running in.
"Yes my queen?" he asked, bowing before her. He knew what she wanted, this was the fourth time he'd been called in today. He was growing a little tired of it, but if he spoke out she would kill him, if he did not show, she would kill him.
Sarahna stared at her minion, thinking about how easily he could be replaced before she spoke. "How much longer till the machine is fixed?"
Cairus swallowed the lump in his throat, afraid of what she may do when she heard the answer. "About half a day, it was damaged considerably years ago. Fixing it is not an easy task." He was prepared to die if she did not like his answer, and he knew she wouldn't.
Sarahan thought about striking him down right there, but decided against it. She could use him a bit more, specifically to attack the rangers today. "Gather an army of Courtadrones, attack the rangers. But do not harm Jason."
Cairus held in his sigh of relief, he was sure she was going to kill him. Wasting no time he stood and said "Yes my queen!" before taking off to gather a dozen or so Courtadrones.
Jason and Tommy sat in the apartment Tommy was renting until the fight was over. He had told the red ranger some of what had happened to him, but not everything. He had left Kim and Carri out of of his story, just like he planned. Jason sat his beer down, he wondered what his friend thought about all that. It was more than he'd ever been through, even with Rita and Mesogog. He had fought to keep his eyes from glowing red every time he mentioned Sarahna, it still pissed him off to think about how easily she had stolen the box from him. He vowed he would get it back, no matter what.
Tommy knew that Jason had kept some things from him, he hadn't brought up his red eyes once, and he had seen them start to flash while he was talking, but he had somehow managed to stop it. I guess, he thought, the only he'll tell me about thta is if I ask. "Jason," he said in a stern voice, snapping his friend from his thoughts, "tell me, what happened to make your eyes flash red?" He wasn't going to beat around the bush, he was going to go straight for it and ask.
Jason was about to answer when their communicators went off. "Go ahead," Jason said.
"It's Cairus, he's attacking down by the lake with Courtadrones." Billy's voice rang through.
"We're on it," Tommy said. The two morphed and teleported out to the battle field.
Jason found that they were the last two to arrive. The others were already fighting the Courtadrones and Cairus. Rocky had his hands full with Cairus, while Kim and Carri took on the Courtadrones. Jason headed for Cairus to give Rocky a hand, while Tommy went to help out the girls. Jason jumped Cairus from behind, landing a kick in the middle of his back that sent him flying to the ground. As Cairus stood he said "Ah, Jason. I was wondering if you'd show up."
"If?" Jason asked curiously. What made this ugly reptilian fox think he wouldn't show up?
Cairus smiled, showing his razor sharp teeth. "Well I just figured you'd run away when you didn't show up first. A true leader would have."
Jason knew he was trying to provoke him, to make him angry so that he couldn't concentrate, but he wasn't going to let it happen. He wasn't. But his words kept ringing throughout his skull "A true leader...A true leader..." Shaking the words from his mind, he leapt into a kick that sent the alien flying into the wall.
Kim ducked under a punch thrown by one of the Courtadrones, and countered by punching him under his chin, dimantling him. As she continued to fight them she saw Tommy run over and join them, she was a bit relieved as it would make the fight a little easier. She tripped one Courtadrone and proceeded to kick him under his chin. During the fight she caught sight of the lake, she had spent so much time there with Tommy, so many wonderful memories...
After they had finished with them they went to join Jason and Rocky with Cairus. "Guys," Billy said through the speakers in their helmets "I've a new cannon for you to try out. I'm sending it now."
"Right," Tommy said before Jason could as he and the others grabbed the cannon as it fell into their hands. "Ready, fi-" he stopped mid-sentence as Cairus left the battlefield. "Smart guy." Tommy muttered to himself as the cannon disappeared and they all teleported back to the Power Chamber.
Jason had noticed how Tommy had started to take charge, like he was the leader of the team. He had to set things straight with him about that, this was his team. He knew how Sarahna operated, not Tommy. As they powered down Jason walked up to him and said "What do you think you're doing bro?"
Tommy, confused, looked at his friend and aaked "What do you mean?"
"I mean," Jason said, eyes flashing red, "what do you think you're doing, taking charge of the team like that. Look, Tommy, I respect you as a leader, I do, but this is my team. I assembled it, I know how Sarahna operates, as do Kim and Carri."
Tommy knew he was right, this was indeed Jason's team, not his. But he couldn't help it, it was his insticts as a red, as a team leader, kicking in. "I'll try and remember that," he said "And now you can answer my question, why do your eyes flash like that?"
Jason sighed, he supposed that was as good of an answer as he'd get from Tommy for now. He understood that his friend was used to leading, ever since he was the white ranger he had been a leader. He had led them on the Serpentera mission as well, which Jason respected that as Tommy had had more experience with Zedd and his Zord. But now was different, and Tommy was going to have to respect that. "Thank you," he said, hoping the red ranger would remember that. "As for the eyes...remember Muranthias?" He figured that everyone who didn't already know should find out together anyway. He waited until Tommy nodded to continue. "Well, apparently there were some side effects, such as my eyes flashing red when I get mad." He didn't want to tell Tommy everything just yet, so he neglected to mention the whole teleporting ability.
Carri straightened up and managed to cut off whatever Tommy was going to say in response by saying "Well guys, I have to be going. I've got to get ready for tonight." She flashed Rocky a quick smile before teleporting out.
"Yeah, I need to be going too. Jason, see you at the school in the morning?" Rocky asked, waiting for him to nod before teleporting out himself, followed by Kim, Jason, and then finally Tommy, Billy and Trini.
Later that night Kim found herself sitting by the lake, where that days battle had taken place. She sat with her knees curled up in her face as she thought about all the things that had happened by this lake. Her first kiss with Tommy had taken place by this lake, it was also where he first tried asking her out, right before the green candle fiasco. The thoughts of them sneaking out late at night and meeting by the lake made her giggle. She had been so happy then, but that happiness had been shattered after she moved to Florida. Tommy was on the other side of the country, and she had been forced to write the letter, and then when she finally did come back she found him with Kat, and even though they broke up upon her return, things between her and Tommy hadn't been the same, and she didn't think they ever would be.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Jason asked as he walked up behind her. He had been out for a walk by the lake, he too had memories here, but of Emily. He remembered after he gave up the gold Zeo Powers they went for a walk along the shore line. Like Kim, he missed those days. The days before Muranthias, before Sarahna.
Kim turned to look at him as he sat down next to her. "Oh, hey Jason. I was thinking..."
Jason cracked a smile "About?" Normally he would've made a wise crack, but he could tell she was thinking about something serious, probably something along the same lines as him.
Kim sighed beforre speaking "High school mostly, how simple things used to be, how pleasant, well, you know what I mean."
He knew, when Rita, Zedd, or Mondo were silent things were pleasant, simple. He nodded "You mean Tommy." He knew she never quit loving him. She didn't talk about it much, but he knew.
Kim nodded, she had thought about telling Jason the story of how it all went down hill after she moved to Florida, more than once actually, but she could never find the right time. "Jason, there's something I need to tell you, it's about what happened after I moved to Florida and eventually left for space." She hoped he'd listen, he always had before. Ever since they were little he'd listened to her problems, and even tried to help her out with them. Hopefully he could help her with this too, and being that he was now her Murathian twin she really felt closer to him than anyone, even Carri.
"Alright, go ahead." He said, ready to listen. He was glad she finally chose to tell him, he'd wanted to ask her everyday since they met up in space, but he knew that she would tell him when she was ready, and so he waited patiently. Now, she just had to start telling him.